31/10/2014

Mercedes Benz Portugal: Mercedes-Benz and Garrett McNamara Announce the Development of Two New Surfboards

LISBON, Portugal--Mercedes-Benz Portugal just delivered a new surfboard to Garrett
McNamara entirely made of Portuguese cork, a project done in partnership
with Corticeira Amorim. The new board was handed over by Joerg
Heinermann (Mercedes-Benz Portugal CEO) and Alberto Batista (Commercial
Manager of Amorim Cork Composites). This board will be used by Hawaiian
surfer Garrett McNamara to surf the biggest waves in the world in
Nazaré, Portugal.

In addition to this innovative surfboard, efforts will
be undertaken to develop yet another surfboard, to be made of the foam
used to manufacture aircraft wings, a material Garrett himself has
brought all the way from Varial Surfboards in California. Portuguese
company Polen Surfboards, which has also joined this 100% Portuguese
project, is responsible for manufacturing the two aforementioned
surfboards, which will be used to surf the North Canyon waves in Nazaré.

The MBoard project, started by Mercedes-Benz in 2013, ultimately
resulted in the production of four boards of a model named “The Silver
Arrow of the Seas”. Designed by BBDO Portugal, these boards were
developed in partnership with Garrett McNamara for the North Canyon
Project and the Mercedes-Benz Design Studio. This was a joint effort, in
which dozens of design, research, aerodynamics and materials development
specialists helped manufacture the ideal board to surf big waves in
Nazaré.

In 2014, Mercedes-Benz is taking this challenge further by designing a
surfboard entirely made of a local material, traditionally used to
manufacture bottle stoppers, whose efficacy, resistance and durability
have been proven in a wide range of projects developed all over the
world, namely in the aerospace, automobile and textile industries. We
are obviously talking of Portuguese cork.
In order to produce a surfboard entirely made of cork, we decided to
resort to the expertise of the world’s largest cork producer, Corticeira
Amorim, a company recognised by its long experience in product research
and development, an effort partly undertaken by Amorim Cork Composites.

This sustainable material appeared an obvious choice to Garrett, who
affirmed that cork is “a highly resistant material, although
sufficiently flexible to withhold the impact of big waves”. According to
Garrett McNamara, “since Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer,
it makes perfect sense to use this material to make high-performance
surfboards for surfing in Nazaré. When we surf big waves, we need a
flexible board, although resistant enough not to break. It is an honour
for me to be involved in the innovative MBoard Project developed by
Mercedes-Benz, which now has the support of Corticeira Amorim, as well
as the advanced technology of Polen Surfboards.”

Garrett McNamara currently holds the record for the biggest wave ever
surfed, having secured himself a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Garrett used boards designed by Mercedes-Benz in 2013 to surf big waves
in Nazaré at 62.4 km/h, a staggering speed whose measurement was only
made possible by the use of a telemetry system developed by
Mercedes-Benz within the scope of the MBoard Project.

According to Carlos de Jesus, Communications Manager at Corticeira
Amorim, “Corticeira Amorim is proud to be involved in this project,
which proves that Portuguese companies are able to develop and produce
innovative products that meet the quality and design standards of the
most demanding companies in the world”.

Carlos de Jesus also stressed
that “the technical performance of natural cork and, in this particular
case, of the Corecork range, is doubtlessly an important asset for
extreme sports enthusiasts, namely extreme surfers. Cork also boasts
environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics, which are even
more relevant when considering that these products are being targeted at
the surfing community, one of the first groups to acknowledge the
importance of these issues.”

According to Álvaro Costa, from Polen Surfboards, "it is very important
and gratifying for Polen to be able to participate in this Mercedes-Benz
initiative, as it represents an opportunity for us to engage in research
and development in a field in which we have operated for more than 25
years. Only within the scope of a project of this size can certain
materials, techniques and technologies be studied and put to the test.”

“We have been collaborating closely with Garrett McNamara, a surfer who
has spent most of his life surfing big waves and who has provided us
with essential knowledge. This partnership not only contributes to add
credibility to this initiative, but also validates all the efforts
undertaken within the scope of this project, supported by companies such
as Amorim Cork Composites.”

“Together, we are researching new manufacturing techniques, with a view
to creating a unique surfboard, different from any other surfboard ever
made. We intend to produce two incredibly effective surfboards,
specifically designed to withstand the most extreme conditions. This
Portuguese initiative will not only represent a milestone for Polen
Surfboards, but also a turning moment in the world’s surfing history."

Regarding the foam traditionally used in the aerospace industry, which
will be used to make a new surfboard for Garrett, it should be stressed
that the technological characteristics of this material will allow the
manufacturing of a board without a stringer (a longitudinal component
often found inside the surfboard, which allows for ideal robustness and
flexibility). Garrett McNamara expects this surfboard to boast “…maximum
flexibility without loss of strength, in order to withstand big waves at
the Nazaré North Canyon”. Polen Surfboards is also involved in the
development of this board for Garrett, within the scope of the MBoard
Project.

According to Parker Borneman, CEO of Varial Surf Technology - "Varial
Foam is the world's first advanced aerospace foam core designed
specifically for surfboards. This new high modulus core technology
yields a stronger, lighter, more responsive board - while enabling a
larger range of custom flex patterns."

To Jorge Aguiar, Marketing Manager at Mercedes-Benz, “the MBoard Project
1.0, developed in 2013 with the support of the Daimler Group Design
Centre, resulted in the production of the first board (MBoard 1.0)
specifically designed for surfing big waves in Nazaré, based on
Portuguese technology. In 2014, we intend to develop two new boards
(MBoard 2.0 and MBoard 3.0), based on the results achieved by Garrett
with the MBoard 1.0 at the Nazaré North Canyon.”

“For this purpose, we have established partnerships with two Portuguese
companies, Corticeira Amorim and Polen Surfboards. We would like this to
be a Portuguese project, although with global impact, since we believe
we will most likely become the best towboard manufacturers in the world.”
“With these two unique surfboards we are seeking to find the perfect
balance between weight, flexibility and speed, in order to allow Garrett
to surf the famous North Canyon waves again, something we believe will
happen soon.”

“We should seek to stand out from our competitors when building a brand
targeted at our customers and prospective customers, in order to
encourage greater proximity between the Brand, the products and the
consumers. In this sense, the MBoard Project has already accomplished
these goals, both in Portugal and abroad. We are obviously making
history in the surfing world, just like Garrett McNamara did when he
surfed the biggest wave in Nazaré. Above all, working with Garrett has
been a privilege and an opportunity to learn even more. We expect to
find out how the new technology used in these two surfboards will
improve performance in the near future,” affirmed Jorge Aguiar.
Mercedes-Benz establishes partnership with Beachcam.pt to develop new
features

In addition to the development of the two aforementioned surfboards,
other news give an account of the increasingly close relationship
between Mercedes-Benz and the surfing world. This month, Mercedes-Benz
will be presenting a new project, developed in partnership with
Beachcam.pt, whose scope included the development of new features on
this website, accessed daily by thousands of surfers seeking waves and
news. In addition to Live HD Cams, which broadcast live images from
several beaches all over the country, the portal will now include
real-time weather information, as a result of the installation of
weather stations on all main beaches in Portugal.

Users will thus be
able to access this information for free, in order to find out which
beaches offer the best conditions. Moreover, Beachcam.pt users will also
be able to access an exclusive Mercedes-Benz news channel containing
information specifically targeted at the vast surfing community.

According to Jorge Aguiar, “Mercedes-Benz has been rejuvenated. In
addition to being the most recognised automobile brand in Portugal,
Mercedes-Benz offers the widest range of models aimed at this target
group. In this sense, and because we wish to forge increasingly closer
relationships with our customers, we were the first automobile company
to develop an information platform specifically aimed at ocean lovers.”

According to Vasco Silva, Director of Beachcam Portugal, “it gives us
great pleasure to present the new Beachcam.pt, developed in partnership
with Mercedes-Benz. This partnership will bring a wealth of benefits to
the entire surfing community, which, as we know, relies heavily not only
on sea conditions, but also on weather conditions.”

Mercedes-Benz becomes official sponsor of the North Canyon Project

In line with the large surfing events organised in Portugal and
recognising the increasing popularity and potential of this sport,
Mercedes-Benz and Nazaré Qualifica have recently signed a sponsorship
agreement for the North Canyon Project. Mercedes-Benz is thus very proud
to have once again been chosen by Nazaré Qualifica to transport the bold
surfers who accompany Garrett McNamara.

According to the Mayor of Nazaré, Walter Chicharro, “Nazaré, a location
where the earth and the sea have been one and the same since time
immemorial, is currently a spot not to be missed by the global surfing
community. In this sense, we are extremely pleased to have Mercedes-Benz
as our partner for the second consecutive year and feel grateful for
their commitment to producing boards specifically designed for surfing
big waves at the Nazaré North Canyon.”

The North Canyon Project by Garrett and his team will take place at the
North Beach, in Nazaré, from October to November 2014. Several
international surfers will join this event for the opportunity to surf
big waves in Nazaré, in an attempt to set a new world record.

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